| It was March 13, 1982 when John Parker took this picture of then Southern 5126 moving down the middle of Union Street in Aiken SC. http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=325945 Now 28 years later 5126 is back on p22 in NS paint and I had planned from the first day I saw this one in my home town to try and dupe the shot by John Parker. From film to digital some things still haven't changed. Well here it is. Of course I can't get everything exactly right because it's hard for me to find our exactly where Mr. Parker was standing 28 years ago. I'm zoomed in much closer than Mr. Parker was. Furthermore the engine is running longhood forward this time and is pulling covered hoppers instead of southern boxcars. The tree that John was standing behind is long gone, and the house has been re-painted to a greenish color whereas it was white back in Parker's photo. Many of the background trees remain but also take notice that my shot is taken in the summer and his is taken in late winter so all the hardwood trees have no leaves in his photo. Finding and planning this shot took some time because the neighborhood has changed in a few ways but the general layout has remained the same and that played in my favor. But I can say I did it. Not many railfans get this opportunity after 20 years have passed and I sure was glad to see 5126 on my local this summer. Maybe 28 years from now another railfan will get a chance to do this again. |